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Interpreters are considered an integral part of the educational system, as they help to create strong cultural and linguistic bridges among parents, students and educators. Interpreters in the educational setting move beyond simply addressing language barriers, to helping English Learner families and school personnel build cultural bridges thus increasing student achievement and parental engagement.

This presentation will provide a description of the distinct features of the field of interpretation in educational settings, highlighting important differences in terms of the code of ethics, standards of practice and terminology. An overview of the distinct vocabulary related to special education and discipline procedures will be offered, as well as resources for further professional development. Lastly, we will explore strategies for legal, community and medical interpreters to expand their vocabulary and skills to be effective interpreters in educational settings, specifically in the areas of special education, parent-teacher conferences and disciplinary hearings.

Bio: Ana Soler is CEO of SeSo, Inc. a source of professional development opportunities for medical and educational interpreters. Ana moved to the US at the age of 14 experiencing the struggles of adjusting to a new culture, language, and way of life. As her family’s “official” interpreter, Ana began to see the barriers that immigrant and refugee families faced and made a conscious decision to create cultural awareness and promote language access.

She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Georgia State University and a Master’s Degree in Public Health at Emory University. While working at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Ana conducted various Hispanic/Latino community needs assessments that guided the development and establishment of medical interpreter educational opportunities. As one of the founding members of the Medical Interpreters Network of Georgia and a member of the original Board of Directors of the Hispanic Health Coalition of Georgia, Ana continued to expand the field of interpreter education and quality assurance. After more than a decade working as a Language Services and Parent Outreach Coordinator with the largest school district in Georgia, Ana was able to define professional development opportunities for bilingual individuals in the educational setting, as well as school personnel seeking to engage English Learner parents in their children’s education

Midwest Association of Translators & InterpretersA chapter of the American Translators Association